DEAR REV. GRAHAM: I prayed and prayed that God would heal my grandmother, but He didn't. I know she was old and in poor health, but she raised me and I'd always depended on her for spiritual and emotional support. Why didn't God answer my prayers? It's hard not to be upset.

-- M.F.

DEAR M.F.: We don't always know why God doesn't answer our prayers the way we think He should, and it's not always easy for us to accept this. I think of Job's cry when he mistakenly thought God didn't hear his prayers: "Why do you hide your face and consider me your enemy?" (Job 13:24).

But God loves us, and He knows what is best for us, even if it's painful at the time. We see only part of the picture, but He sees the whole situation, and His wisdom is far greater than ours. He also knows our feelings, and yet He doesn't reject us when we get upset at Him. Instead, He wants us to turn to Him and discover the depths of His love -- a love so great He allowed His Son to die for our sins.

Yes, you prayed that your grandmother would be healed, and apparently she wasn't. But she was! Right now, she is in heaven and all her weaknesses are gone. When we know Christ, God has promised that someday we will be given new bodies -- bodies like that of Christ after His resurrection. Take time today to thank God that your grandmother is now free from all her earthly ills.

May you also turn to Christ each day and discover in Him the lasting spiritual and emotional support you need. And pray too that God will use you to help others, just as your grandmother helped you.